women s cricket, pioneers and unsung heroes

Women’s Cricket, Pioneers and Unsung Heroes

The important contribution made to women’s cricket by former students of

Dartford College of Physical Education

Jane Claydon 2021

© The Ӧsterberg Collection

2

Unsung Heroes

A great deal of publicity has been given to women’s cricket in the last decade and yet,

some modern authors, in their histories of the game, have not included the names of many

talented international cricketers with links to Dartford.

Perhaps this is because the authors were not taught

by members of staff trained at a Specialist College of Physical Education and are unaware of the heritage of

Dartford, Bedford, Chelsea, Dunfermline and other later foundations.

As a result, they have missed out on a rich history of women cricketers and administrators.

I am sure Mary Duggan would be surprised to find that her lengthy and

significant career is not highlighted in one recent publication.

I have attempted to redress the balance and introduce the reader to many other players

who trained at Dartford College. They may not be household names, but during their careers they

influenced the development of the game for women and the outcome of many significant matches.

Information about the history of women’s cricket is easy to find. Several books of interest have been

published in the last half century. Perhaps, Nancy Joy’s Maiden Over, published in 1950, is overlooked by

younger researchers, but it is a source of interesting details about the 1948/49 tour to Australia and

New Zealand in which the author participated.

The Cricket Archive can provide details of the performance of all England women cricketers, the WCA year

books are available to view online and many of the players feature on the pages of Wikipedia.

Wisden 1970 includes information about Enid Bakewell’s successful career.

As recently as 19th June 2021, TV commentators have continued to say that Enid was

the best all rounder ever in the women’s game.

I have included a number of early cricket photographs, taken at Dartford,

which many readers will not have seen. They are held in The Ӧsterberg Collection.

© Jane Claydon and The Ӧsterberg Collection

3

Cricket was the first team game to be played by Madame Bergman Ӧsterberg’s students

when her college was in Hampstead.

Several old students from that era recalled that they travelled by train to Neasden, wearing their tunics and

were called those dreadful girls. They were coached by a Mr Ballard.

A few early students, such as Ethel Stevenson (1891), had played cricket at

school and so were familiar with the game.

Contents

1. Cricket at Madame’s college, firstly at Hampstead and later at Dartford Page 4

2. Influential cricketers who attended college at Dartford Page 12

3. Early stages of the Women’s Cricket Association Page 13

4. International cricketers who attended college at Dartford 1915—1939 Page 17

5 The 1934/35 tour to Australia and New Zealand Page 19

6. Significant women cricketers who attended Dartford College of Physical Education:

i) Mary Duggan (1946) Page 20

ii) Norma Preston (Mrs Izzard) (1954) Page 25

iii) Rachel Heyhoe (Mrs Heyhoe Flint) (1960) Page 27

iv) Enid Turton (Mrs Bakewell) (1962) Page 28

7. International cricketers who attended college at Dartford 1957—1968 Page 29

8. Appendix Ruth Westbrook (Mrs Prideaux) 1

References Page 32

I am most grateful to members of The Ӧsterberg Collection team who have given me ideas and information.

Rosemary and Alan Gamwell have both provided assistance and also some instruction about how to access the online catalogue and the dates of some of the early photographs.

Christobel Elliott, has been particularly helpful. She provided the names of several old students who had played international cricket.

Christobel also drew my attention to Enid Bakewell’s inclusion in Wisden in 1970 and that TV commentators are still suggesting that Enid was the best all rounder ever in the women’s game.

The photographs and the information from the Year Books published by the WCA have revived long forgotten information.

Jane Claydon and The Ӧsterberg Collection

4

Cricket at Madame’s college, firstly at Hampstead and later at Dartford

Cricket had been introduced to the students at Hampstead College of Physical Training by 1891. Several early students made mention in letters or recalled in reminiscences, of travelling to Neasden to play in the summer evenings. A Mr Ballard was the cricket coach.

By the early 1890s cricket was a very well established game in many girls’ schools. Gillian Avery, in The Best Type of Girl, recorded that girls at The Chantry School, in Somerset, played cricket in the 1860s. Examples of girls’ schools with connections to college who played in the 1870s and 1880s include: Sidcot School where the girls played in 1872, Moira House, which played in the 1870s and St Leonards which introduced cricket in 1878. Girls at The Mount School, York collected money for bats, wickets and balls in 1879 and The Princess Helena College started cricket in 1885. Ethel Stevenson, who completed her training at Hampstead in December 1891, appears in a photograph of a Notting Hill and Ealing cricket team, dated 1887. An early Notting Hill and Ealing school magazine recorded a match against The Princess Helena College in 1887.

Roedean had a school team by 1888. Their games were supervised by Christabel Lawrence (1887) who was apparently scathing in her criticisms of the girls:

whose absence from cricket practices result from their innate frivolity, going to town, riding, bathing or even playing tennis.

Ethel Stevenson (1891) taught for two terms at St Leonards in 1892. In July that year, the Captain of School commented on the marked improvement in cricket due chiefly to Miss Stevenson’s careful coaching.

Madame’s decision to move her college in 1895, to Kingsfield on Dartford Heath, enabled cricket to prosper and other team games to develop. However, Mr Ballard was unable to continue in his role as cricket professional.

Madame appointed someone else as Ethel Rigby (1898) in a letter, dated February that year, said:

In cricket we are coached by a professional who comes down four evenings a week.


Ethel Adair Roberts’ album

5

Games Record, Cricket. Madame’s Report 1895

Beatrice Marriage and Hannah Williamson would have played cricket while at

Polam Hall and The Mount School, before they entered college.

It is not known where Elsie Feesey, Mildred Westlake or Margaret Lucas were educated.

Miss Bowyer was a well known lady cricketer at that time.

(The use of the terms Old students and New students, in this context meaning Old, those from

Hampstead and New from Dartford.)


6

Top left: Miss Bowden (1901). A member of staff by 1903

Left: Wyndham Emma Hughes Hallett (1904)

Above : Mabel Speight (1904)

© TӦC


7

These photographs are from an album compiled by E. Silvia Cowles (1903). The dated photographs on page 6, also show the students wearing shoes, black stockings and a cricket

pad worn on just one leg.

8

These photographs are undated

but suggest

they may have been used

to demonstrate

the bowling action.

9

Album created by Annette Cronchey (1909) © The Osterberg Collection

10

Before WWI, local boys and young men played cricket at college in the evenings

with some of the students

All these photographs are included in Katherine Rigold’s album. E.R. Clarke (1906) was a member of staff

in 1911 but, it seems likely, that Mr Palmer was the cricket professional.

The Kingsfield Book of Remembrance recorded that Madame invited C.B. Fry to coach her students.

The date is unknown but, it may have been during the time when his step daughter, Sybil Hoare,

was at college,1904—1906.

(C.B. Fry was an outstanding sportsman and probably best remembered as a cricketer. In 1895 he played for England for the first time on the South African tour and went on to captain England in 1912.)

© TӦC © TӦC

© The Österberg Collection

Katherine Rigold’s album 1909—1911

11

1928. Left: L. Hinds and R. Dakin

Above L. Hinds

1913 cricket team © The Ӧsterberg Collection

12

Influential cricketers who attended college at Dartford

Kathleen Doman (1917) proposed the motion which resulted in the founding of the WCA in 1926.. She was a founder member and a member of the first WCA committee which also included: E.R. Clarke (1906) and Clarice Partridge (1912). The first WCA games began in 1927. Hope Douglas Brown, later Vice Principal of Anstey College of P.E. was a keen cricketer and played for the Rest of England in 1929, as did Miss Haddelsey, when London and District played them in the first public match. Kathleen Doman and Mollie Child were the Dartford representatives for London and District. (The Rest won 215 runs to London 176 for 9.)

The aim of the association was to encourage the development of clubs, which would hopefully lead to the formation of county teams. The AEWHA had found this model successful. Norah Strathairn (1912) was based in St Andrews by 1926 but she played in some games for the WCA. These early teams were not selected. The idea was to encourage play and arrange for matches to take place in different parts of the country. This enabled those in more far flung areas to play with their friends from time to time.

Internationalists.

Only Muriel E. Haddelsey was one of Madame’s own students.

Haddelsey Muriel E. (M.E.) (1915)

Haddesley Margaret J. (M.J.) (1919)

Joy Partridge (1920)

Elizabeth M. Child (Mollie) (1929)

Helen E. Green (Betty) (1929) Manager of the 1934 touring team to

Australia and New Zealand

Mary F. Spear (1934)

Mary Duggan (1946)

Norma Preston (Mrs Izzard) (1954)

Mollie Hunt (Mrs Buckland) (1957)

Sheila Plant (1958)

Jacqueline Elledge (Mrs Wood) (1958)

Rachael Heyhoe (Mrs Heyhoe Flint) (1960)

Mary Pilling (Mrs Evans) (1960)

Ann Jago (1960)

Sandra Brown (1961)

Enid Turton (Mrs Bakewell) (1962)

Jill Cruwys (Mrs Smart) (1965)

Heather Dewdney (Mrs Hole) (1968)

Pam Ferdinand (Mrs Mather) (1968)

Chris Watmough (1968)

Isabel Nowell Smith (1931) umpired the 1st test between England and Australia in 1951, the second test between England and Australia in 1963 and, in 1976,umpired the 2nd ODI v Australia.

13

The Women’s Cricket Association Year Books

These year books are available online and the first publications are a source of interest to those associated with Dartford College. They record the involvement of Dartford old students in the early development of the WCA.

The opening page of https://womenscrickethistory.org/ states:

In the Summer of 1926, a number of friends assembled in the Village of Colwall near Malvern to amuse themselves by playing some cricket together. Miss Cox (Vera) and Miss Doman sponsored a two/three day tour to Colwall, where the Park Hotel, then owned by Colonel and Mrs. Scott-Bowden, was their headquarter.

It was at this event that the idea of a Women’s Cricket Association was first mooted.

The WCA Report 1926 includes the Minutes of the Ist meeting. It gives the names of those present and a list of apologies. Kathleen Doman was in attendance. Apologies were sent by Miss Catherine Whyte (1918), E.R. Clarke (1906) and Clarice A, Partridge (1912). They can be identified as old students. (Clarice A. Partridge was the older sister of Joy Partridge who left college in 1920.)

Discussion included subscription fees. Kathleen Doman suggested 10/6 for playing members but, it was an amendment, proposed by Miss Nowell Smith, which was passed—that the subscription for the first year should be 5/- and members could send more if they pleased.

The first Officers of the newly formed association included Dartford trained: Kathleen Doman (1917) Clarice A. Partridge (1912) and E.R. Clarke (1906).

The WCA Report 1927 provides more information about the involvement of former Dartford students with the association. E.R. Clarke, Kathleen Doman and Clarice Partridge had been joined on the committee by M.E. Haddelsey (1915). Other Dartford names include: Yvonne Neame (1921) Audrey B. Ash (1907) Mary Hankinson (1898), Hope Douglas Brown (1918), Miss Hoare perhaps Sybil Hoare (1906) and Elizabeth Mafie (1924).

Perhaps the most interesting proposal, contained in this report, was that Kathleen Doman, proposed, and was seconded by Miss Hoare (possibly Sybil, the step daughter of C.B. Fry) that men should be invited to become Honorary Members of the WCA. After some discussion the original proposal was withdrawn and a new one put forward which suggested:

That there shall be honorary members, including men; the selection being left in the hands of the members.

Kathleen Doman and Miss Hoare were keen to recognise that some of the male cricketers had supported the women by granting the use of grounds and had provided coaching for the women players.

There was agreement amongst these early women cricketers that the men’s ball was too large. M.E. Haddelsey felt the 4¾ oz ball or youth ball would be better. Kathleen Doman favoured a larger 5 oz ball. It was decided that players should experiment during the season. A suggestion to adopt a 21 yard pitch was ‘left open’.

E.R. Clarke by this stage had been involved in the first committee of the Ladies Lacrosse Association, established in 1912, and she went on to be a member of the AENA in 1930. She was a sought after committee member on several National Governing Bodies. On the subject of the formation of clubs it was recorded:

Miss E.R. Clarke spoke on the necessity of finding County or Area representatives who would work up their own particular districts and devote their energy to forming clubs. She suggested that no county team be formed under a minimum of three clubs.

The 1927 Report recorded that Dartford, Bedford, Chelsea, Anstey and Liverpool PTC had joined the WCA, plus twenty eight schools and twelve clubs. The WCA’s fixture list included a variety of opposition. Some individual players organised teams and matches were not limited to members or the WCA. Teams from Cheltenham Ladies College, Wycombe Abbey School, The Princess Helena College, St Felix Southwold and Sherborne were also included when the WCA arranged tours to different parts of the country.

By 1928 the size of the ball had been agreed; 5 oz was to be used by adults but the smaller, 4¾ oz ball would be used in schools. However, the smaller ball was used at Cricket Week and different sizes continued to be tried for some time. The WCA were delighted to beat Dartford’s Ist XI in July. The 1928 Year Book mentioned it was the first time for 5 years that the college team had been defeated. By 1928 the number of affiliated schools had risen to thirty two and twenty one clubs had been founded.

Both Kathleen Doman and Clarice Partridge were early umpires and umpired in 1937 at the first test. See https://womenscrickethistory.org/History/umpires_and_scorers.html

14

Miss Constance Applebee founded The Sportswoman in 1922. It was a flourishing publication. It concentrated on hockey and lacrosse but it included other sports from time to time.

Many students trained at Dartford wrote articles for the publication including Kathleen Doman, E. R. Clarke, Joy Cran, and Cecily Bartle. Rosabelle Sinclair was a Contributing Editor.

All Dartford trained players

This publication was viewed and photographed at West Chester University, PA in 2015

15

A Women’s Cricket Association team visited St Leonards in 1929. Above, seated centre right, is Norah Strathairn (1912), Marjorie Pollard is on her left and Vera Cox on her

right. Probably Clarice Partridge (1912) rather than Joy Partridge, far left back row, E.R. Clarke (1906) back row, centre right with J. Hatten, far right. Elizabeth Macfie (1924) is sitting on the far left, on the grass, with

Betty Snowball in the centre.

The WCA were very fortunate that Marjorie Pollard was a very keen player, and a founder member of the association. She was able to ensure the women cricketers received very good publicity.

Marjorie was the Editor of Hockey Field and Lacrosse and later, in 1930, founded and edited Women’s Cricket.

She submitted copy for newspapers including The Morning Post, the Evening News and The Observer.

Copyright laws do not allow the reproduction of newspaper articles in other publications but a copy of The Morning Post, published 22nd of May 1929 included, probably a very typical account of a WCA match, in this case in Scotland.

The column was headed Women’s Cricket, Association Team’s Tour in Scotland.

The text left, therefore, comes from the St Leonards School Gazette rather than a newspaper and describes the match.

This entry in a school magazine is probably very typical of accounts of school matches against the WCA team.

1929 © St Leonards School

WCA XI

© SLS

16

Members of the WCA XI returned to play at St Leonards in 1930.

Norah Strathairn is wearing a dark blazer, back row, left.

Kathleen Doman (1917), a founding member of the WCA, wearing white, is partially hidden

in the centre of the photograph. Betty Archdale, a future England captain, is on the very extreme left.

Vera Cox, another founding member of the WCA, is on the far right, middle row.

Front row, Betty Snowball, left, Marjorie Pollard, centre and Elizabeth Macfie, right.

© St Leonards School

WCA XI

© SLS

17

International cricketers who attended college at Dartford 1915—1939

Kathleen Doman (1917) At a meeting in London of fellow women cricketers on 26th October 1926, Kathleen proposed the formation of a central association for women’s cricket. This was passed and Kathleen became a founding member of the Women’s Cricket Association. She was a well-known cricket coach and umpire.

In 1927, former Dartford students: Kathleen Doman, Norah Strathairn, Clarice Partridge and M. Haddelsey, featured in an article about the England Women’s Cricket Association, written by Vera Cox, in The Sportswoman, a publication produced by Constance Applebee for American women interested in sport. (It was a similar magazine to Hockey Field and Lacrosse.)

Kathleen was one of the umpires for the first of the Test matches v the Australian Women, in Northampton in June 1937.

Muriel E. Haddelsey (1915) known as M.E., and her sister Margaret Joyce Haddelsey (1919), known as M.J., were both early England cricketers.

Nancy Joy in Maiden Over said: M.E., the batsman, an elegant player: M.J. tossing up left-handed slows.

M.E. played for the Rest of England, as did Hope Douglas Brown (1919), in the first women’s match to have a public audience. It took place at Beckenham on 17th July 1929,

The occasion received much publicity, both locally and nationally. The opposing team, London and District included Kathleen Doman (1917) and Mollie Child (1929). The Rest of England won, by 215 runs, to London’s 176 for 9.

Netta Rheinberg, in Fair Play, recorded the WCA selectors chose M.J. for the first representative England team in 1933 but, as she was unable to play, M.E. took her place. England beat The Rest, whose captain was Hope Douglas Brown (1919), by 94 runs.

M.E. and M.J. were selected to play for England, in the first of the Test matches v the Australian Women, in Northampton in June 1937. It was the first time two sisters had played in a Test Match together. They both scored 8 runs in the first innings. M.J. also played in the second Test Match, at the end of June, in Blackpool.

In Maiden Over, Nancy Joy, also mentioned Norah Strathairn (1912) and Olive Andrews (Bedford 1918), both members of the games department at St Leonards, in St Andrews. Nancy had made reference to bowlers and included this comment:

Miss Andrews and Miss Strathairn, emerging at intervals from their northern mists, tossed them up gravely and with sly success.

Joyce (Joy) Evelyn Partridge (1920) played cricket for England and was selected for the first women ’s cricket tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1934. She took 6 for 96 in the second Test which helped England to win the ashes. She also played for Buckinghamshire and the South. She died in 1947 after a long illness.

An obituary, written by Molly Hide, who had been taught by Joy at Wycombe Abbey School, was published in the WCA Magazine in June 1947. It included:

When the WCA Team was selected to tour Australia in 1934 Joy Partridge was chosen principally for her batting… one remembers her more as a bowler. The Australian crowd delighted in her rather peculiar run up to the wicket and her slow, high-well-pitched up balls. If the batting had become rather dull ‘’We want Partridge’ or ‘Put on Partridge’ became the familiar cry from the crowd. Her bowling certainly gave much pleasure, as did her slip fielding, where her incredible agility and anticipation succeeded in her making some amazing catches...

She did much for the development of cricket in Buckinghamshire and she was President of the County Association and founded the Wyandots Club. At Cricket Week she was well known and captained a team for several years.

Kathleen Doman


18

Elizabeth Mary Child, known as Mollie Child (1929) was a middle order batsman. Mollie was one of the key members of the first women's tour when England travelled to Australia in 1934/35. She had to give up her post at Queen Ethelburga’s School in order to participate. Mollie played in all three Tests. In the one-off Test in New Zealand, she hit an unbeaten 86 in an innings and 337 run win. She played in the first two Tests of the return series in 1937 but was dropped after making 22 runs in four innings.

Green, Helen Elizabeth (Betty) (1929) was invited by the WCA to be a player/manager of 1934/35 Touring Team to Australia and New Zealand. She did not play in the Test matches or state matches but she played in other games. After the tour the WCA Magazine May 1935 recorded Betty’s reflections:

The Tour was a success; definitely so: not because the English team returned unbeaten (though that was gratifying…) but for far more important reasons. Our fifteen players established most friendly relations everywhere with opponents, officials and the general public.

Mary Frances Spear (1934) was born in Bath in 1913. She was a member of the pioneering touring team and took 5 wickets for 15 in the first ever test in Australia. She played in the first four Test matches against Australia and

New Zealand on the tour and helped England win the Ashes. She was a middle order batsman and medium paced bowler.

E.G. Jane Pollard (1939) was not an international cricket player but she achieved notoriety in cricket circles as she took 5 wickets with 5 consecutive balls during a school match, in 1936, while a pupil at St Paul’s School. Jane was presented with the trophy, left, recording her success. The story of her success is recorded in The Kingsfield Book of Remembrance:

She was hailed in the press as a ‘demon’ bowler and Female Larwood.

Jane joined the staff at Dartford in 1947 and was appointed Principal Lecturer in 1957. Six years later she joined H.M. Inspectorate and in 1971 was appointed Staff Inspector of Physical Education and Dance.

A representative side was selected by the WCA to tour to Australia in 1939. However, the out break of WW II made that impossible. Women’s cricket ceased completely until 1946, apart from the occasional match to raise money for charity.

Cricket at Dartford College 1932 © The Ӧsterberg Collection

© TӦC

19

Report of the WCA Touring Team to Australia and New Zealand

1934—35

Details taken from the Women’s Cricket Year Book 1935 page 18. Additional information has been included.

Archdale, Elizabeth (Betty) (Captain) St Leonards School, St Andrews, and Comp Cricket Club.

Burletson, Mary S. Roedean School and Anstey P.T.C.

Child, Elizabeth Mary (Mollie) St George’s School, Harpenden, Dartford P.T.C. and Cuckoos C.C.

Green, Helen Elizabeth (Betty) Hamilton House School, Tunbridge Wells, Dartford P.T.C., Cuckoos and Gunnersbury Cricket Clubs.

Hide, Molly Wycombe Abbey School and Reading University.

Liebert Joyce (Joy) St Leonards School, St Andrews.

Maclagan Myrtle Royal School, Bath and Minley Manor Club.

Morgan Grace Civil Service Headquarters W.C.C.

Partridge, J.E. (Joy) St Mary’s and St Anne’s, Abbot’s Bromley and Dartford P.T.C.

Richards Mary E. Clifton High School and Bedford P.T.C.

Snowball, Elizabeth A, (Betty) (Vice Captain) St Leonards School, St Andrews, Bedford P.T.C. and Winchester C.C.

Spear Mary Frances St Paul’s School and Dartford P.T.C.

Taylor Mary Isabella (known as Peta) Gunnersbury Cricket Club.

Turner Doris M. Gunnersbury Cricket Club.

Valentine Carol Wycombe Abbey School and Cuckoos C.C.

In The Suffragette’s Daughter, Betty Archdale, the author, Deirdre Macpherson, incorrectly states on page 59 that Betty Green was at school with Betty Archdale. That is not the case. Betty Green attended Hamilton House School in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

The members of the 1934 touring team were all required to use similar trunks. These had a green band painted around them and the initial of the player’s surname clearly marked. This was to assist the porters responsible for unloading the players’ luggage.

Betty Snowball’s trunk, taken on the 1934 tour, is at present on loan to the MCC at Lords, from St Leonards School. It was lent for the exhibition about the development of women’s cricket, but it was unable to open in April 2020, as planned, because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

The trunk was also exhibited at Dartford at a cricket exhibition in 2015.

https://lords-stg.azureedge.net/mediafiles/lords/media/documents/evolution-of-women-s-cricket-exhibition.pdf

© Jane Claydon

Betty Snowball’s trunk

20

Significant women cricketers who attended Dartford College of Physical Education

i) Mary Duggan (1946)

Mary was one of the most well known cricketers of her era. She was born in 1925 and educated at The Royal School, Bath, before attending Dartford College between 1943-46. She was one of the students who was based at Newquay, during WWII.

Mary taught at Queen Ethelburga’s School, Harrogate (1946—1950) and The Henrietta Barnett School, London, (1950—1953) before being appointed to the staff of Dartford College in 1953 where she remained in post until 1959. She was appointed a LLC Inspector of PE in 1960 and Deputy Principal of Dartford College and Principal Lecturer of PE in 1964.

Mary was a left-arm fast-medium bowler, who played for Worcestershire and Yorkshire, before being selected to play for her country. Mary’s obituary in 1973, in the Physical Education Association Magazine, recorded: In 1949 she played in her first Test in Adelaide at the age of 22. In 1951, in the final Test Match at Kennington Oval, Mary’s bowling made cricket history. She took 9 wickets and at one stage in the second innings had taken 5 wickets for 5

runs.

An article in The Times on 22nd July 1951 was headed: Miss Duggan shows grace and power. The text included:

In 1958 Mary was selected captain of the English team which toured Australia and New Zealand and she continued to lead England until she retired, finishing her playing career with a century against Australia at the Oval in 1963.

Mary was President of the Women’s Cricket Association from 1971—1973. She took a keen interest in cricket at Dartford. Mary was a mentor for many of the England cricket players who attended the college during her time as a member of staff. Mary’s legendary play has lived on, well beyond her time in post at college.

The peak of the day’s pleasure came from a not-out century of grace and distinction and considerable power by Miss Duggan, England’s captain... No praise is too high for Miss Duggan’s effort with 17 fours and her mastery of all the aristocratic strokes from the late cut and the cover drive to the potent pull and the meticulously timed sweep...


Left: 1957, Miss Dickinson (L) and Miss Duggan (R)

21

Tribute to Mary Duggan

by The Royal School, Bath

A copy is held in The Ӧsterberg Collection

22

Also see The Ӧsterberg Collection Hall of Fame

http://bergmanosterbergunion.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Mary-Duggan.pdf

Mary Duggan 1925 – 1973 Educationalist and Icon of Women’s Cricket

© The Ӧsterberg Collection (Information compiled by members of the archive team.)

23

The Kingsfield Book of Remembrance includes a tribute to Mary Duggan

written by Mrs Margaret Chamberlain.

The complete document may be viewed:

https://bergmanosterbergunion.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/KBR-Duggan-web.pdf

24

Mary Duggan’s obituary was published in the

Bergman Österberg Magazine, in 1973

A copy of the funeral service sheet is held in The Ӧsterberg Collection.

A copy of the address, given by Mrs M.J. Chamberlain, at the Memorial Service for Mary Duggan held at

college on 11th May 1973, was published in the BӦU Magazine in 1974.

25


ii) Norma Preston (1954) (Mrs Izzard) OBE

President of the W.C.A. from 1994—1998 and the longest serving Senior England Manager.

In total she was the Manager of twelve international tours.

Cricket awards presentation, the Women's Ashes. Left to right: Norma Izard, Past President WCA, Quenton Bryce, President Women's Cricket, Australia and Belinda Clark , Australian Captain

In 1998 Norma presented this trophy, known as the Women’s Ashes, to commemorate the dissolution of the WCA. and the merging with the ECB.

Norma was one of the first group of ten women, with Rachael Heyhoe Flint, to be made an Honorary Life Member of the MCC in 1999.

Gill Metcalfe, writing in the 2005 BÖU Magazine, said: In 2000 Norma was invited by the MCC to form and Chair a Sub-Committee/Working Party responsible for introducing women players into the club in line with the existing tradition of men being able to gain membership through participating in ‘out matches’. This Committee had the task of arranging fixtures; selecting players, organising coaching sessions and overseas tours for women. Norma subsequently became the first MCC Squad Manager, responsible for playing members


Dartford College cricket team 1952

Norma Preston

26

1956

Back row, far right, Sheila Plant. Front row, far right Mollie Hunt.

Below cricketers at Dartford in 1964

27


iii) Rachael Heyhoe (1960) ( Mrs Heyhoe Flint) Baroness Heyhoe Flint OBE, DL

A great deal has been written about Rachael and full details of her life and her cricket career maybe found elsewhere, for example in the WCA archive, books, articles, internet searches about women’s cricket and in her autobiography Heyhoe, published in 1978.

Rachael’s obituary, written by Anne Stuart (1977) and published in the Bergman Ӧsterberg Magazine in 2018, (available in the Members Section of The Ӧsterberg Collection website) provides an insight into her life. An excerpt is included below:

28


iv) Enid Turton (1962) (Mrs Bakewell) MBE

Enid was married by the time she played for the English women’s cricket team in 12 Tests between 1968 and 1979 and in 23 one-day international matches. A right-handed bat and slow left-arm bowler, she is often regarded as the best all-rounder that the English women's game has produced.

In Tests she scored 1,078 runs at an average of 59.88, with four centuries, as well as taking 50 wickets at an average of 16.62. She scored 112 not out and took 10 for 75 against West Indies at Edgbaston in 1979. Enid was invited to join the England 1968-69 tour and played in all three Tests against Australia and all three Tests against New Zealand. She opened the batting in her first Test, against Australia in 1968, and made a century. Enid also scored centuries opening the batting in the first and second Tests against New Zealand in 1969. On this tour, she achieved a batting average of 39.6 in 29 innings, and took 118 wickets at a bowling average of 9.7.

In the final match, of the first ever, Women’s World Cup competition in 1973 against Australia, which England won, Enid scored 118 and took 2/28 in 12 overs. She also played in the 1982 Women’s Cricket World Cup, taking 3 for 13 against India at Wanganui and then 3 for 29 against the International XI at Wellington.

Enid played in the three Tests at home against Australia in 1973 and in the three Tests at home versus the West Indies in 1979. At Edgbaston in 1979, she scored 68 in the first innings and scored 112, not out, in the second innings. Enid took 10 for 75 in the match (3-14 and 7-61). She qualified as an England Cricket Board coach.

Enid was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2012, becoming the third woman cricketer to do so. (Rachel Heyhoe-Flint was the first to achieve this.) Enid was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours. Enid was included in Wisden in 1970 for her 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a series.

Enid bowling at Lords in 1976

England Team v Australia 1976. Jubilee of WCA © The Ӧsterberg Collection

Dartford team members are circled: Chris Watmough, Jill.Cruyws, Rachael Heyhoe, Enid Bakewell, Pam. Ferdinand Heather Dewdney

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICC_Cricket_Hall_of_Fame

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Heyhoe-Flint

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Heyhoe-Flint

29

International cricketers who attended Dartford College 1957—1968

Mollie Hunt (1957) (Mrs Buckland) played for England and Kent. She was a member of the English Women’s Touring Team to South Africa in 1960—61. The team played test matches in Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Cape Town, in 1961. Mollie was Vice Chair of the WCA in 1976.

Jackie Elledge (1958) (Mrs Wood) represented England in a series of three test matches against Australia in 1961. She played primarily as a batter.

Sheila Plant (1958) played in eight test matches for the England women's cricket team between 1960/61 and 1968/69. She was a wicket keeper. After her playing career was over she umpired and was a scorer at representative matches.

Rachael Heyhoe (1960) (Mrs Heyhoe Flint) A great deal has been written and published elsewhere about Rachael and her exceptional career. Her influence and considerable achievements are acknowledged here but the details of her career have been widely published and are accessible to researchers via the internet, or in published books written by modern authors such as: Isabelle Duncan and Raf Nicholson.

Ann Jago (1960) played in two Test matches for the England women ’s cricket against South Africa during the 1960–61 season. The games took place in Durban and Cape Town.

Mary Pilling (1960) (Mrs Evans) was a pace bowler. She played eleven test matches for the England women's cricket team between 1963 and 1976. During the 1968/69 tour she took 4 for 53 against New Zealand. She played in the 1973 World Cup.

Sandra E. Brown (1961) played in three Test matches for the England Women ’s cricket team against Australia in 1963. She scored 148 runs at an average of 37 and bowled 42 wicket less overs.

Enid Turton (1962) (Mrs Bakewell) Detailed statistics about Enids very successful career are published elsewhere.

Jill Cruwys (1965 ) (Mrs Smart) made her test debut in 1969 as a member of the England women's team who played against New Zealand in Wellington. Jill played in the England team who won the first Women’s Cricket World Cup in July 1973. In a total she played in five tests and made her last test appearance in 1976 when England played Australia, in Birmingham.

Heather Dewdney (1968)(Mrs Hole) was invited to write about her cricket career. She recalled:

I was selected, before leaving College, in late 1967, for the tour of Australia and New Zealand. We left on December 3rd 1968 and returned via Fiji, Hawaii, plus a match in San Francisco and New York in April 1969.

I didn't apply for a "proper" job until my return and instead worked temporarily at Priest Hill ILEA playing fields where I got to know a variety of international cricket and rugby players who spent their then "close" seasons coaching in schools.

Rachael then led us on unofficial tours of Jamaica in 1970 and Jamaica and Trinidad in 1971 before we won the inaugural cricket World Cup, played in England in 1973. We went to India in 1978, to defend the World Cup, but lost out to Australia.

Pam Ferdinand (1968) (Mrs Mather) was selected in 1970 for Rachael Heyhoe Flint ’s touring team to Jamaica. In 1973 Pam played in the winning England World Cup team, in England’s One Day International and, in the Women’s Limited Overs international.

Chris Watmough (1968) was brought up in Preston, in Lancashire. She is a left hander. She arrived at college in 1965 as an accomplished cricketer and was immediately selected for the College 1st XI. In 1968 she was selected for the touring team to Australia. Chris played in thirteen Test matches for the England women’s cricket team between 1968/69 and 1984/85.

She excelled as a batter and scored 397 runs. Chris also played twenty eight One Day International matches during which she made 593 runs.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_cricket

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_women%27s_cricket_team

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_cricket



30

Former Dartford students are circled:

Back row, Rachael Heyhoe, Sheila Plant and Mary Pilling

Front row: Chris Watmough, Heather Dewdney, Enid Bakewell (Turton) and Jill Cruyws

© Chris Watmough

Left:

Chris Watmough

Below:

Pam Ferdinand (Mrs Mather)


The England Touring Team to Australia and New Zealand 1968/69

31

Appendix

Ruth Westbrook (Mrs Prideaux), trained at Anstey College between 1948-1951 is included in this publication as she coached a number of students mentioned on previous pages. Ruth was a member of staff at Dartford College of Physical Education between 1959-1964.

She played in eleven test matches between 1957 and 1963.

Ruth was appointed England’s first, full time, coach in 1988 and her players won the World Cup in 1993.

There is a considerable amount of material about Ruth is available on line and so two excerpts from her obituary, written by Anne Stuart (1977) and published in the BӦU Magazine in 2017, (available in the Members Section of The Ӧsterberg Collection website) are included in this publication.

32

References

https://crickether.com/2016/05/08/ruth-prideaux-a-remarkable-lady/

Duncan, Isabelle Skirting the Boundary A History of Women’s Cricket. Robson Press 2013

Heyhoe Flint, Rachael and Rehinberg, Netta Fair Play: The Story of Women’s Cricket Angus and Robertson Publishers 1976

Joy, Nancy Maiden Over A Short hHstory of Women’s Cricket and a diary of the 1948—49 Test Tour to Australia. Unwin Brothers Ltd 1950

Knight, Francis A History of Sidcot School. Dent 1908.

Nicholson, Rafaelle Ladies and Lords: A History of Women’s Cricket in Britain. Peter Lang Ltd 2019

St Leonards School Gazette 1898

The Ӧsterberg Collection

Photographs

Bergman Ӧsterberg Magazines

The Kingsfield Book of Remembrance

WCA Year Books 1926 and 1927

Wisden 1970 Enid Bakewell ttps://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152414.html

Further reading

Internet searches will provide additional information about many players mentioned in this document.

© Jane Claydon and The Ӧsterberg Collection

June 2021

Date unknown

women s cricket, pioneers and unsung heroes

Documents